Method and system for conveying digital texture information to a user

ABSTRACT

A system for conveying digital texture information to a user includes and/or interfaces with a tactile stimulation device and a processing subsystem. A method for conveying digital texture information to a user includes any or all of: receiving a set of inputs; characterizing a digital object and/or a user based on the set of inputs; determining a stimulation pattern based on the characterization(s); providing stimulation to the user according to the stimulation pattern; and repeating any or all of the above processes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63/280,036, filed 16-NOV-2021, and U.S. Provisional Application No.63/333,013 filed 20-APR-2022, each of which is incorporated in itsentirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the tactile sensory field, and morespecifically to a new and useful system and method for conveying digitaltexture information to a user in the tactile sensory field.

BACKGROUND

Haptic stimulation (equivalently referred to herein as tactilestimulation) has been shown to have several advantages in varioussensory use cases, such as: supplementing other forms of sensory inputs(e.g., audio, visual, etc.) in enhancing a user experience; replacingsensory inputs which might be compromised and/or otherwise unable to beperceived (e.g., audio for hearing-impaired individuals, visual mediafor visually-impaired individuals, etc.); and/or otherwise enhancinguser perception and the conveying of information.

The integration of haptic stimulation into virtual and digitaltechnologies, such as virtual and/or augmented reality platforms, andwebsites, among others, has yet to be achieved in high resolution,non-inhibitive ways. For instance, one major area of perception which iscurrently lacking in conventional systems and methods is the ability toconvey remote textures in a perceptible and efficient tactile way to theuser, which could have numerous benefits in online retail, gaming, AR/VRexperiences, and general information sharing, among others.

Thus, there is a need in the tactile sensory field to create an improvedand useful system and method for conveying digital texture informationto a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a system for conveying digital textureinformation to a user.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a method for conveying digital textureinformation to a user.

FIG. 3 depicts a variation of a method for conveying digital textureinformation associated with a consumer website to a user.

FIGS. 4A-4B depict a variation of a method for conveying digital textureinformation associated with a virtual reality platform to a user.

FIGS. 5A-5C depict a variation of a system and method for conveyingdigital texture information associated digital image data to a user.

FIG. 6 depicts a variation of a tactile stimulation device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionis not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments,but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use thisinvention.

Overview

As shown in FIG. 1 , a system 100 for conveying digital textureinformation to a user includes and/or interfaces with a tactilestimulation device and a processing subsystem. Additionally oralternatively, the system 100 can include and/or interface with any orall of: a user device and/or 3^(rd) party device, a set of models and/oralgorithms, a set of databases, and/or any other components.Additionally or alternatively, the system can include or all of thecomponents as described in U.S. Application Serial No. 14/750,626, filed25-JUN-2015, U.S. Application Serial No. 15/661,934, filed 27-JUL-2017,U.S. Application Serial No. 15/795,054, filed 26-OCT-2017, U.S.Application Serial No. 17/033,433, filed 25-SEP-2020, U.S. ApplicationSerial No. 17/076,631, filed 21-OCT-2020, U.S. Application Serial No.17/508,670, filed 22-OCT-2021, and U.S. Application Serial No.17/886,785, filed 12-AUG-2022, each of which is incorporated herein inits entirety by this reference.

As shown in FIG. 2 , a method 200 for conveying digital textureinformation to a user includes any or all of: receiving a set of inputsS100; characterizing a digital object and/or a user based on the set ofinputs S200; determining a stimulation pattern based on thecharacterization(s) S300; providing stimulation to the user according tothe stimulation pattern S400; and repeating any or all of the aboveprocesses S500. Additionally or alternatively, the method 200 caninclude and/or interface with any or all of the processes described in:U.S. Application Serial No. 14/750,626, filed 25-JUN-2015, U.S.Application Serial No. 15/661,934, filed 27-JUL-2017, U.S. ApplicationSerial No. 15/795,054, filed 26-OCT-2017, U.S. Application Serial No.17/033,433, filed 25-SEP-2020, U.S. Application Serial No. 17/076,631,filed 21-OCT-2020, U.S. Application Serial No. 17/508,670, filed22-OCT-2021, and U.S. Application Serial No. 17/886,785, filed12-AUG-2022, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety bythis reference, or any other suitable processes performed in anysuitable order. The method 200 can be performed with a system asdescribed above and/or any other suitable system.

Benefits

The system and method for conveying digital texture information to auser can confer several benefits over current systems and methods.

In a first variation, the technology confers the benefit ofnon-intrusively conveying textural information associated with digitalobjects on a website or other platform (e.g., digital photo viewer,video viewer, etc.) to a user, such that a user can participate (e.g.,without mobility restrictions and/or hindrances, without having limitedmobility and/or a limited range of motion, while having full mobility,etc.) in immersive and informative interactions with digital objects.

In a set of examples, for instance, the technology is implemented inaccordance with a set of consumer websites, such that digitalrepresentations of products can be used to convey accurate tactileinformation associated with the products, thereby improving theexperience of the user. This can, in turn, function to improve consumersatisfaction with products purchased online, improve consumer success inthe remote sale of products, and/or confer any other benefits.

In a second variation, additional or alternative to the first, thetechnology confers the benefit of increasing an immersive nature of anextended reality (e.g., virtual reality, extended reality, etc.)platform through the conveyance of textural information associated withvirtual objects.

In a set of examples, for instance, the technology confers the benefitof enabling virtual objects in a gaming or other immersive environmentsto convey textural information to the user in an unobtrusive andintuitive way which enhances the immersive and/or informative nature ofthe environment.

In another set of examples, the technology enables videos viewed by theuser to convey textural information. In a particular specific example,the textures associated with objects in the videos are deduced through acomputer vision process applied to the video data with a set of one ormore trained (e.g., machine learning, deep learning, etc.) models and/oralgorithms.

In a third variation, additional or alternative to those describedabove, the technology confers the benefit of dynamically adjusting auser’s tactile interactions with a virtual and/or digital object, suchthat the user can appropriately perceive textural information as he orshe virtually interacts with the object (e.g., moves his hand along,etc.).

In a fourth variation, additional or alternative to those describedabove, the technology confers the benefit of non-intrusively (e.g.,unobtrusively, without limiting user mobility such as the mobilityconstraints that result from requiring the user to wear gloves and/orwired garments, etc.) conveying textural information to a remotelocation of the user’s body relative to the location of the user’s bodythat is interacting with a digital and/or representation of the object.In a set of specific examples, a wristband-arranged tactile device isconfigured to convey tactile stimulation to a wrist of the user as he orshe uses her fingertip to virtually interact with a digital object on atouchscreen, thereby providing the user with uninhibited motion of hisor her fingertips and/or hands.

Additionally or alternatively, the system and method can confer anyother benefit.

System 100

As shown in FIG. 1 , a system 100 for conveying digital textureinformation to a user includes and/or interfaces with a tactilestimulation device and a processing subsystem. Additionally oralternatively, the system 100 can include and/or interface with any orall of: a user device and/or 3^(rd) party device, a set of models and/oralgorithms, a set of databases, and/or any other components.Additionally or alternatively, the system can include or all of thecomponents as described in U.S. Application Serial No. 14/750,626, filed25-JUN-2015, U.S. Application Serial No. 15/661,934, filed 27-JUL-2017,U.S. Application Serial No. 15/795,054, filed 26-OCT-2017, U.S.Application Serial No. 17/033,433, filed 25-SEP-2020, U.S. ApplicationSerial No. 17/076,631, filed 21-OCT-2020, U.S. Application Serial No.17/508,670, filed 22-OCT-2021, and U.S. Application Serial No.17/886,785, filed 12-AUG-2022, each of which is incorporated herein inits entirety by this reference.

The system 100 functions to improve a user’s interaction with and/or theamount of information able to conveyed in association with digitaland/or virtual objects, such as, but not limited: digital images,digital videos, virtual reality objects, digital and/or virtualrepresentations of objects (e.g., in a video), objects in print (e.g.,in a printed photo, magazine, drawing, etc.), and/or any other objects.

Additionally or alternatively, the system 100 can perform any otherfunctions.

The system 100 preferably includes and/or interfaces with a hapticstimulation device (equivalently referred to herein as a haptic deviceand/or a tactile device and/or a tactile stimulation device), whichfunctions to provide haptic (equivalently referred to herein as tactile)stimulation to the user.

In a preferred set of variations, for instance, the haptic stimulationdevice functions to provide tactile information to a user such that theuser can still engage his or her mobility, other senses (e.g., visual,auditory, etc.), and/or otherwise be uninhibited and/or mostlyuninhibited. In examples, for instance, the user can use his or herhands (e.g., fingers, fingertip pads, etc.) in an uninhibited fashion(e.g., in engaging with a touchscreen, in holding a set of virtualreality controllers, in virtually contacting a virtual object, etc.)while receiving tactile stimulation at a remote body region (e.g.,wrist, arm, torso, etc.). The user can be trained to perceive thisremote tactile stimulation as occurring at another region and/orcorresponding to what real interactions with objects would feel likewhen occurring at that other region. In a set of examples, for instance,a user can virtually interact with digital objects and/or virtualobjects using his or her hands and perceive those interactions throughtactile stimulation provided at a user’s wrist or other body region.Additionally or alternatively, tactile stimulation can be provided atthe region (e.g., fingertip) virtually interacting with objects, atmultiple regions, and/or at any other regions.

The haptic stimulation device preferably includes a set of one or moreactuators, wherein the actuators individually and/or collectivelyfunction to provide tactile stimulation to a user, such as in accordancewith one or more stimulation patterns (e.g., as described below). Theset of one or more actuators can include any or all of: an actuator(e.g., linear resonant actuator [LRA], electroactive polymer [EAP]actuator, electromechanical polymer [EMP] actuator, etc.), a motor(e.g., brushless motor, brushed motor, direct current (DC) motor,alternating current (AC) motor, eccentric rotating mass (ERM), etc.), apiezoelectric device, and/or any other suitable vibratory elements.

The actuators can be any or all of: integrated within and/or secured to(e.g., reversibly coupled with, permanently coupled with, etc.) any orall of: a fastener, garment (e.g., vest, sleeve, etc.), band (e.g.,wristband, armband, watch band, etc.), and/or any other componentconfigured to enable the actuators to be arranged proximal to (e.g.,touching, nearby, with an offset from, within a predetermined distanceof, etc.) a body region of the user. Additionally or alternatively, theactuators can be independently and/or directly placed against a user(e.g., adhered to a skin surface of the user), held by a user, and/orplaced at any other suitable locations relative to a user.

The actuators can be arranged in any suitable arrangements and/orconfigurations, such as, but not limited to: a 1-dimensional array(e.g., single row), a 2-dimensional array (e.g., multiple rows, circulararrangement, etc.), a 3-dimensional array, and/or any otherconfigurations.

The haptic stimulation device can include any number of actuators, suchas multiple actuators (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, between 2-10,greater than 10, between 5-20, between 2 and 100, greater than 100,etc.), a single actuator, and/or any number of actuators.

In a preferred set of variations, the haptic stimulation device isconfigured to encircle and/or partially encircle a limb, appendage, orother body region (e.g., torso, waist, etc.) of the user, such as with,but not limited to, any or all of the following form factors: awristband, arm band, leg band, belt, vest, anklet, sleeve, pant leg,and/or any other form factors.

In a set of examples, the haptic stimulation device is in the form of awristband haptic stimulation device including an actuator subsystem,wherein the actuator subsystem has a set of one or more actuatorsarranged at one or more locations of a wrist region of the user (e.g.,with a strap, wristband, bracelet, watchband, fabric, etc.), such asaround a circumference of the wrist, around a partial circumference ofthe wrist, at a set of one or more discrete points proximal to thewrist, at any region of the arm and/or hand, and/or at any othersuitable regions proximal to the user’s wrist(s). Additionally oralternatively, the haptic device can be worn on any other body regionsof the user (e.g., torso in a vest embodiment, leg, etc.).

In particular example, for instance, the haptic stimulation deviceincludes a wristband device including one or more linear resonantactuators (LRAs) (e.g., 4, 8, between 1 and 10,1, greater than 10, etc.)arranged (e.g., in a single row, in multiple rows, etc.) around apartial or full circumference of the user’s wrist.

In another set of examples (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6 ), the hapticstimulation is in the form of a vest or shirt such that an array ofactuators can provide stimulation to chest, back, and/or side regions ofthe user.

Additionally or alternatively, the haptic stimulation device can includeany or all of the systems, components, embodiments, and/or examplesdescribed in U.S. Application Serial No. 17/033,433, filed 25-SEP-2020,which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. Furtheradditionally or alternatively, the system can include a non- wearablehaptic device, any other devices, and/or any combination of devices.

The system 100 can optionally include and/or interface with a userdevice (e.g., mobile user device), which can function to: providecontent (e.g., digital content, virtual content, etc.) to a user (e.g.,digital content on a consumer website, images, videos, etc.), receiveinputs from a user (e.g., user contact locations at a touch screen),provide outputs to a user (e.g., vibratory outputs, audio outputs,etc.), and/or perform any other functions. Examples of the user deviceinclude a smartphone, tablet, mobile phone, laptop, watch, wearabledevice (e.g., glasses), or any other suitable user device. The userdevice can include power storage (e.g., a battery), processing systems(e.g., CPU, GPU, memory, etc.), user outputs (e.g., display, speaker,vibration mechanism, etc.), user inputs (e.g., a keyboard, touchscreen,microphone, etc.), a location system (e.g., a GPS system), sensors(e.g., optical sensors, such as light sensors and cameras, orientationsensors, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and altimeters, audiosensors, such as microphones, etc.), data communication system (e.g., aWiFi module, BLE, cellular module, etc.), or any other suitablecomponent(s).

In a set of preferred variations, the system is configured to interfacewith mobile user devices having a touchscreen display (e.g., as shown inFIG. 3 ), such that the user can virtually interact with and/or scrollthrough image data displayed at the touchscreen display with his or herfingertips.

The system 100 can additionally or alternatively include and/orinterface with any number of 3^(rd) party devices, such as, but notlimited to, those used in conjunction with an extended reality (e.g.,virtual reality [VR], augmented reality [AR], etc.) platform. Theextended reality platform preferably functions to provide and controlvirtual content (e.g., in VR, in AR, in mixed reality, in extendedreality, etc.) including a set of virtual objects with which the userinteracts during the method 200.

The virtual platform can be configured for any or all of: gaming, taskperformance (e.g., remote surgery, remote control of robotics, etc.),simulation (e.g., military simulators, flying simulators), training(e.g., surgical training), immersive teleconferencing, and/or any othersuitable applications.

In some variations, the virtual platform includes and/or interfaces witha tracking subsystem configured to determine and/or track a user’slocation (e.g., in a room or other predefined space, relative to avirtual object, etc.), further preferably a location of a particularregion of the user’s body (e.g., the second body region(s), the user’shands, the user’s fingers, the user’s torso, the user’s head, the user’sarm(s), the user’s leg(s), the user’s feet, etc.).

Additionally or alternatively, the virtual platform can include and/orinterface with any other components, and/or the system 100 can includeand/or interface with any other suitable 3^(rd) party devices.

Digital objects (e.g., produced at a virtual platform), equivalentlyreferred to herein as virtual objects, herein refer to visual content(e.g., visual objects) which the user can perceive (e.g., at a displayof a virtual platform such as a display in a VR headset, at a screen ofa mobile user device, at any other suitable display, etc.). The digitalobjects can represent any or all of: inanimate objects (e.g., ball,balloon, weapon, house, building, chair, etc.), animals, people (e.g.,virtual representation of user, virtual representation of other users ina multi-user VR game, etc.), and/or any other objects portrayed invirtual applications.

Additionally or alternatively, the system and/or method can be used inconjunction with non-visual (e.g., auditory, olfactory, tactile, etc.)inputs.

The system 100 preferably interfaces with a set of processing and/orcomputing subsystems (e.g., onboard the haptic device, distributed amongmultiple components and/or computing systems such as a remote computingsystem, onboard the user device and/or a 3^(rd) party device, remotelylocated at a cloud-based server and/or computing subsystem, etc.)wherein the processing subsystem and/or computing subsystems canfunction to: identify a set of digital and/or virtual objects, identifyand/or characterize textural features or other features (e.g., objectorientations, object edges, object boundaries, object transitions, etc.)of objects, receive and/or retrieve information (e.g., metadata)associated with objects, determine one or more stimulation patterns,store one or more stimulation patterns, monitor system performance,implement a fail-safe (e.g., power shut-off in the event of overheatingor stimulation pattern parameter above a predetermined threshold, alarm,etc.), and/or perform any other suitable function(s). Determining astimulation pattern can include any or all of: determining a newstimulation pattern (e.g., based on an algorithm, based on a machinelearning model, etc.), selecting a stimulation pattern (e.g., from alookup table, from a library, from a record of previously appliedstimulation patterns, etc.), determining a set of parameters associatedwith a stimulation pattern (e.g., a set of weights for a stimulationpattern algorithm, an amplitude a stimulation, a frequency ofstimulation, based on a movement vector, based on a change in textures,etc.), and/or any other suitable stimulation pattern and/or parameter(s)associated with a stimulation pattern.

In some variations, the system includes and/or interfaces with a set ofmodels and/or algorithms, which can be implemented by any or allprocessing and/or computing subsystems of the system.

In preferred examples, the set of models and/or algorithms includetrained models and/or algorithms (e.g., machine learning models, deeplearning models, computer vision algorithms, etc.) configured for any orall of: the identification and/or distinguishing of objects in imagedata (e.g., identification of distinct objects, identification of objectboundaries to determine when and/or what stimulation patterns areapplied at any given time, identification of boundaries betweendifferent textures in one or more objects, etc.), the identificationand/or characterization of textural information and/or textural features(e.g., surface properties, surface textures, relative smoothness, fiberdirectionality, etc.) associated with objects, the selection and/ordetermination of stimulation patterns and/or stimulation parametervalues, and/or any other information.

The trained models and/or algorithms are preferably configured to makedetections and/or determinations based at least on analysis of imagedata, and further preferably the image data that the user is viewing(e.g., substantially in real time with the user viewing the image data,prior to the user viewing the image data, etc.). Additionally oralternatively, the trained models and/or algorithms can receive anyother information as input, such as, but not limited to: other imagedata (e.g., for training, for analysis, etc.), supplementary information(e.g., metadata) associated with the image data (e.g., as receiveddirectly by the processing subsystem from a consumer website or otherplatform displaying the image data), user inputs, and/or any otherinformation.

Additionally or alternatively, textural information, object information,and/or any other information can be received (e.g., directly) assupplementary information from a website (e.g., consumer website) orother platform displaying the image data. In some variations, forinstance, textural information associated with clothing displayed at aconsumer website is received as metadata directly from and/or deducedbased on metadata received directly from the consumer website. In theparticular example shown in FIG. 3 , for instance, metadata receivedfrom the consumer website displaying an outfit for sale can indicatethat a hat in the image data is made from a wicker material, a scarf inthe image data is made from a silk material, and a dress in the imagedata is made from a cotton blend. Additionally or alternatively, any orall textural features (e.g., directionality of the wicker material,orientation of the hat, etc.) can be received and/or deduced frommetadata, determined rom processing of the image data with a set oftrained models and/or algorithms, and/or otherwise suitably determined.

The system can optionally include and/or interface with a set ofdatabases (e.g., stored in memory accessible by the processingsubsystem), wherein the set of databases can contain informationassociated with any or all of: a set of stimulation patterns (e.g.,baseline stimulation parameters for each texture type and/or texturefeatures), a set of textural features (e.g., directionality, surfaceproperties, etc.) associated with each texture / material type, and/orany other information.

In a set of variations, for instance, a set of databases includesbaseline stimulation parameters (e.g., amplitude values, actuatorassignment values, temporal actuation durations, sequence of actuatoractuations, etc.) for each texture and/or set of textural features.

The system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any othersuitable components.

In a first set of variations, the system includes and/or interfaceswith: a wristband tactile stimulation device including a set ofactuators configured to provide vibratory stimulation to the useraccording to a set of stimulation patterns, and a processing subsystemwhich is configured to processing image data displayed to a user at amobile user device. Additionally, the system can optionally interfacewith a set of trained models and/or algorithms (e.g., stored at theprocessing subsystem, evaluated at the processing subsystem, etc.) whichcan function to process data in accordance with any or all of theprocesses of the method 200.

In a first set of examples, the processing subsystem is at leastpartially arranged onboard the wristband tactile stimulation device.

In a second set of examples, the processing subsystem is at leastpartially arranged onboard the mobile user device.

In a third set of examples, the processing subsystem is at leastpartially arranged at and/or defined as a remote computing subsystem.

In a fourth set of examples, the processing subsystem is arranged at acombination of locations.

In a second set of variations, the system includes and/or interfaceswith: a vest tactile stimulation device including a set of actuatorsconfigured to provide vibratory stimulation to the user according to aset of stimulation patterns, and a processing subsystem which isconfigured to processing image data displayed to a user at a mobile userdevice. Additionally, the system can optionally interface with a set oftrained models and/or algorithms (e.g., stored at the processingsubsystem, evaluated at the processing subsystem, etc.) which canfunction to process data in accordance with any or all of the processesof the method 200.

Additionally or alternatively, any other form factors can be utilized asa tactile stimulation devices.

In a third set of variations, additional or alternative to thosedescribed above, the system is configured to interface with an extendedreality subsystem and any associated components (e.g., headset display)(e.g., instead of a mobile user device, with a mobile user device,etc.), where the system enables virtual objects displayed to the user(e.g., through a headset display) to convey textural information throughtactile stimulation. In a set of examples, for instance, the system isconfigured to interface with an extended reality subsystem as describedin U.S. Application Serial No. 17/076,631, filed 21-OCT-2020, which isincorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

Additionally or alternatively, the system can be include any othercomponents and/or be implemented in any other suitable manners.

Method 200

As shown in FIG. 2 , a method 200 for conveying digital textureinformation to a user includes any or all of: receiving a set of inputsS100; characterizing a virtual object and/or a user based on the set ofinputs S200; determining a stimulation pattern based on thecharacterization(s) S300; providing stimulation to the user according tothe stimulation pattern S400; and repeating any or all of the aboveprocesses S500. Additionally or alternatively, the method 200 caninclude and/or interface with any or all of the processes described in:U.S. Application Serial No. 14/750,626, filed 25-JUN-2015, U.S.Application Serial No. 15/661,934, filed 27-JUL-2017, U.S. ApplicationSerial No. 15/795,054, filed 26-OCT-2017, U.S. Application Serial No.17/033,433, filed 25-SEP-2020, U.S. Application Serial No. 17/076,631,filed 21-OCT-2020, U.S. Application Serial No. 17/508,670, filed22-OCT-2021, and U.S. Application Serial No. 17/886,785, filed12-AUG-2022, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety bythis reference, or any other suitable processes performed in anysuitable order.

The method 200 preferably functions to provide information associatedwith the textures or other surface properties of digital and/or virtualobjects to a user through selective (e.g., texture-specific) hapticstimulation. Additionally or alternatively, the method can function toprovide other information to users, provide information through otherand/or multiple types of stimulation (e.g., bimodal stimulationincluding haptic stimulation and audio stimulation, bimodal stimulationincluding haptic stimulation and visual stimulation, multimodalstimulation, etc.), and/or perform any other suitable functions.

In preferred variations, for instance, the method enables the provisionof sensory augmentation via vibrations to the skin or other body regionof the user, or to a 3^(rd) party hardware intermediary, which causesthe user to perceive the touch and feel of texture (e.g., as learnedthrough a training process, as detectable without a training process,etc.) of a corresponding digital object (e.g., image data on a mobileuser device, virtual object representations as displayed at a headset orother display in an extended reality subsystem, etc.).

Additionally or alternatively, the method can perform any otherfunctions.

4.1 Method - Receiving a Set of Inputs S100

The method 200 preferably includes receiving a set of inputs S100, whichfunctions to receive information with which to perform any or all of theremaining processes of the method.

S100 is preferably performed at least initially in the method 200, butcan additionally or alternatively be performed in response to anotherprocess of the method 200, multiple times, and/or at any other times.

The set of inputs preferably includes a 1^(st) subset of inputs, whereinthe 1^(st) subset of inputs includes information associated with one ormore digital objects (equivalently referred to herein as virtualobjects). A digital object can include and/or refer to any or all of: avirtual object in an extended reality (e.g., augmented reality [AR],virtual reality [VR], etc.) platform; a digital object at a userinterface (e.g., object depicted in an image on a screen, merchandise ona consumer website, object in a photo and/or video, as shown in FIG. 3 ,etc.); and/or any other objects or combination of objects.

The information is preferably in the form of image data, wherein theimage data can include images (e.g., from a consumer website, from agaming platform, from an image and/or video viewer, etc.), supplementarydata associated with the images (e.g., metadata from a website thatcharacterizes textural information and/or other object informationassociated with the image data, data used to construct the images (e.g.,code and/or programming information), and/or any other information.

The 1^(st) subset of inputs can be received from any or all of: awebsite (e.g., metadata from a consumer website, image and/or video froma website to be analyzed with computer vision process, etc.); an imageand/or video viewing platform or program; an extended reality platform(e.g., coordinates describing the location of a virtual object, metadataassociated with a virtual texture of the virtual object, etc.); anoptical sensor (e.g., camera, video camera, etc.); a database; and/orany other sources.

In a first set of variations, for instance, the 1^(st) subset of inputsincludes an image of an object and/or descriptive information (e.g.,object type, features, fabrics, textures, etc.) associated with theobject (e.g., an item) on a website such as a consumer website. In a setof specific examples, for instance, the 1^(st) subset of inputs includesmetadata associated with a clothing item on a consumer website, such asthe item type and the material(s) that the item is made of (e.g.,wherein a texture type can be mapped directly from the material type,wherein a texture type can further be determined with a set of modelsand/or algorithms, etc.).

In a second set of variations, for instance, the 1^(st) subset of inputsincludes location information and descriptive information (e.g., objecttype, size, textural type, etc.) associated with a set of virtualobjects that a user may interact with in an extended reality platform(e.g., as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B).

In a third set of variations, for instance, the 1^(st) subset of inputsincludes image data (e.g., photo, video feed, etc.) which is processed(e.g., in later processes of the method 200, with a computer visionprocess, etc.) to detect and/or classify the objects present in theimage data and/or any properties associated with the objects.

The set of inputs further preferably includes a 2^(nd) subset of inputs,wherein the 2^(nd) subset of inputs includes information associated witha user, wherein the user is provided stimulation in accordance withsubsequent processes of the method 200. The 2^(nd) subset of inputspreferably includes location data associated with the user, such thatuser’s interaction (e.g., virtual interaction) with one or more virtualobjects can be determined and/or characterized. Additionally oralternatively, the 2^(nd) subset of inputs can include any otherinformation associated with the user, such as any or all of: anidentification of the user; features of the user (e.g., which bodyregion is making contact with the virtual object, etc.); and/or anyother information.

The 2^(nd) subset of inputs can be received from any or all of: one ormore sources of the 1^(st) subset of inputs (e.g., an extended realityplatform such as a hand tracking subsystem which monitors a location ofthe user’s hand); a device providing a user interface (e.g., user devicewhich provides a touch screen for the user to interact with a digitalobject where the 2^(nd) subset of inputs includes location informationof the user’s finger interacting with the touch screen, user devicewhich provides location information of a user’s cursor relative to avirtual object on a website, etc.); and/or any other informationsources.

In a first set of variations, the 2^(nd) subset of inputs includestouchscreen data (e.g., coordinates of user skin contact with atouchscreen) received directly from a mobile user device whichcharacterizes the locations (e.g., coordinates, x-y coordinates, etc.)and associated times at which the user makes contact (e.g., with his orher fingertip) with a touchscreen.

In a set of examples (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3 , as shown in FIGS.5A-5C, etc.), the touchscreen data includes coordinates of the user’scontact with a touchscreen surface, which can be used (e.g., insubsequent processes of the method 200) to detect movement and/ordetermine vectors of movement of the user relative to the touchscreensurface.

In a second set of variations, the 2^(nd) subset of inputs includeslocation information (e.g., 3D coordinates) associated with a user’slocation in space as received at a tracking subsystem associated with animmersive environment.

In a set of examples (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B), the 2^(nd) subsetof inputs includes locations of the user’s hands (e.g., fingertips)and/or other body regions in space, which can be used to determine ifand/or how the user makes virtual contact with a set of virtual objectsproduced at a display of an extended reality (e.g., augmented reality,virtual reality, etc.) subsystem.

Additionally or alternatively, the set of inputs can include any otherinformation from any suitable sources.

4.2 Method - Characterizing a Digital Object And/or a User Based on theSet Of inputs S200

The method 200 can optionally include characterizing a digital objectand/or a user based on the set of inputs S200, which functions to informthe parameters and timing associated with stimulation provided to theuser in subsequent processes of the method 200. Additionally oralternatively, S200 can function to determine if tactile stimulationshould be applied to the user (e.g., upon detecting that movement hasoccurred), inform the performance or lack thereof (e.g., in an eventthat no movement of the user relative to the digital object is detected)of other processes of the method 200, and/or can perform any otherfunctions.

S200 is preferably performed in response to and based on any or all ofthe set of inputs received in S100. Additionally or alternatively, S200can be performed during (e.g., as part of) S100 (e.g., whereincharacteristics of the virtual object are received directly in S100), inresponse to another process of the method 200, multiple times, and/or atany other times. Alternatively, the method 200 can be performed inabsence of S200.

S200 is preferably performed with the processing subsystem, andoptionally with any number of trained models and/or algorithms (e.g., asdescribed above). Additionally or alternatively, S200 can be performedwith any combination of processing and/or computing subsystems, withouttrained models and/or algorithms (e.g., with rule-based logic, withpredetermined equations such as dynamics equations, etc.), with a set ofdatabases, and/or with any other tools and/or combination of tools.

S200 can optionally include characterizing the digital object S210,which functions to determine one or more features and/or parametersassociated with the digital object, which can function to inform any orall parameters (e.g., amplitude, frequency, temporal delays, etc.)associated with the stimulation pattern to be provided to the user insubsequent processes of the method 200.

The set of features and/or parameters preferably individually and/orcollectively define the texture(s) of the virtual object and/or texturalfeatures, such as, but not limited to, any or all of: a type of material(e.g., fabric, fur, skin, metallic material, wood, plastic, etc.), afeature of the material (e.g., smooth, rough, wet, dry, densely packed,finely packed, ribbed, regular, irregular, long fibered, short fibered,etc.), surface properties of the texture, whether or not the materialhas a directionality (e.g., first texture in a first direction andsecond texture in an opposing direction) - such as textural propertieswhich differ depending on which direction movement relative to thetexture is occurring, what orientation the object has (e.g., relative toa vector of movement of the user), a stiffness and/or rigidity of thematerial (e.g., fluid, static, etc.), and/or any other features whichaffect how the user would perceive the texture of the object.

The set of features and/or parameters for a virtual object can bedetermined in any or all of the following ways: with a computer visionand/or photogrammetry process; with a set of models (e.g., machinelearning model, deep learning model, trained model, rule-based model,etc.) and/or algorithms; with a set of equations; by referencing adatabase and/or lookup table; with rule-based logic and/or a decisiontree; and/or with any other tools.

Additionally or alternatively, any or all of the set of features and/orparameters can be received directly as an input in S100, such asreceived as metadata (e.g., from a website, extended reality platform,etc.) and/or through product descriptions from a website or otherinformation source.

In some variations, for instance, image data is processed with acomputer vision and/or photogrammetry process (e.g., trained machinelearning model configured for image analysis) in order to identify theobjects in the image data (e.g., classify objects) and thereby enabledetermination of textural features associated with the object (e.g., byretrieving textural information from a database and/or lookup table).Additionally or alternatively, the textural features can be determineddirectly with the computer vision and/or photogrammetry process (e.g.,by detecting surface variations in the objects, by matching surfacefeatures with a library of predetermined textures, etc.).

In other variations, the textural features are received as metadatainformation, such as from an extended reality platform and/or consumerwebsite.

In yet other variations, the textural features are determined based onprocessing any or all of the inputs received in S100 with a trainedmodel.

Additionally or alternatively, S210 can include any other suitableprocesses and/or be used to determine any other information associatedwith the virtual object(s) (e.g., size, location, speed, direction ofmovement, etc.).

S₂ 00 further preferably includes characterizing the user relative tothe virtual object S220, which functions to assess behavior (e.g.,location, movement, etc.) associated with the user and use thisassessment to determine the timing, type, and/or parameters associatedwith stimulation applied in subsequent processes of the method 200.

Characterizing the user relative to the virtual object can include anyor all of: determining a distance between the user and the virtualobject (e.g., based on tracking information from an extended realityplatform), detecting contact between the user and the virtual object(e.g., based on the distance, based on tracking information from anextended reality platform, based on touch screen contact information ata user device, etc.), detecting a manipulation of the virtual object bythe user (e.g., based on the user making a gesture in an extendedreality platform), detecting motion/movement between the user and thevirtual object (e.g., how quickly the user is moving his finger over theobject at a touch display, detecting that the user is swiping his handand/or finger over a virtual object in an extended reality platform, inwhich direction the user is moving relative to the virtual object,etc.), and/or any other characterizations.

In a preferred set of variations, for instance, characterizing the userrelative to the virtual object includes checking for contact between theuser and a virtual object, determining the location of contact (e.g.,which virtual material the user is contacting), and determining any orall of a motion vector characterizing movement of the user relative tothe virtual object. The motion vector can include any or all of: adirection of movement (e.g., such that materials with a directionalitycan be appropriately stimulated), a speed of movement, a pressureassociated with the user contacting (e.g., pressing down on) an object,and/or any other parameters.

In some implementations of the method, for instance, movement of theuser relative to the digital object (e.g., as displayed at a mobile userdevice display, as displayed at a headset of a virtual realitysubsystem, etc.) is checked for in S200, such that tactile stimulationcorresponding to texture is only provided in an event that the user ismoving relative to the digital object (e.g., swiping along a digitalobject using a touchscreen, moving relative to the position of a virtualobject in a virtual reality experience, stationary while the digitalobject is moving, etc.). In examples, for instance, in an event that theuser is stationary relative to the digital object, no tactilestimulation is provided for the stationary temporal duration.

Additionally or alternatively, tactile stimulation can be provided atany suitable times.

In a first variation of the preferred set of variations, where the useris interacting with a virtual object in an extended reality (e.g.,virtual reality, augmented reality, etc.) platform, S200 includes:determining a virtual location of the virtual object, determining atexture of the virtual object (e.g., based on metadata, based on apredetermined textural assignment, etc.), determining a location of theuser (e.g., based on a tracking system data of the extended realityplatform), detecting contact (e.g., virtual contact) between the userand the virtual object (e.g., based on an overlap between the locationsof the virtual object and the user), and determining a set of motionparameters (e.g., motion vector with a speed and direction)characterizing the user’s motion relative to the virtual object based onone or both of the virtual object and the user moving (e.g., based ontracking information of the user and location/motion informationprescribed to the virtual object).

In a second variation of the preferred set of variations, where the useris interacting with a digital object on a touch display, S200 includes:determining a virtual location of the digital object (e.g., based onmetadata received from a consumer website and/or the user device),determining a texture of the digital object (e.g., based on metadata,based on a predetermined textural assignment, etc.), determining alocation of the user (e.g., based on contact sensing information fromthe touch screen), detecting contact (e.g., virtual contact) between theuser and the digital object (e.g., based on an overlap between thelocations of the digital object and the user), and determining a set ofmotion parameters (e.g., motion vector with a speed and direction)characterizing the user’s motion relative to the digital object based onone or both of the virtual object and the user moving (e.g., based ontouch screen information of the user and location/motion informationassociated with the digital object).

Additionally or alternatively, S200 can include any other suitableprocesses.

4.3 Method - Determining a Stimulation Pattern Based on Thecharacterization(s) S300

The method 200 can include determining a stimulation pattern based onthe characterization(s) S300, which functions to prescribe the feel ofthe stimulation to be provided to the user. Additionally oralternatively, S300 can function to mimic a particular texturalexperience through provision of the particular stimulation patternand/or perform any other functions.

The stimulation patterns can prescribe any number of stimulationparameters associated with actuators of the tactile stimulation device,such as, but not limited to: an amplitude of stimulation (e.g., higheramplitude for rougher textures, higher amplitude for denser textures,etc.); duration of stimulation; frequency of stimulation (e.g.,frequency at which one or more motors vibrates, frequency with whichsequential stimuli are provided, etc.); location of stimulation (e.g.,which actuators in a set of multiple actuators are actuated, location onuser’s body region to be stimulated with illusion-based stimulation, howlarge of a region is stimulated, etc.); temporal parameters of thestimulation (e.g., duration that each actuator is actuated, duration ofthe total stimulation pattern, duration of time delay between adjacentactuations and/or adjacent stimulation patterns, etc.); sequence ofvibration; pulsing of vibration (e.g., timing of pulse, total durationof pulse, temporal spacing between pulse, duration of each pulse,frequency of pulsing, etc.) and/or any other parameter(s) ofstimulation. The haptic actuators can be configured to vibrate with anyor all of these parameters fixed (e.g., fixed frequency, fixedamplitude, etc.), dynamic (e.g., dynamic frequency, dynamic amplitude,dynamic duration, dynamic pulsing pattern, based on texture, etc.),and/or any combination.

The stimulation patterns can be any or all of: predetermined (e.g., andstored in a database, referenced in a lookup table, etc.), dynamicallydetermined (e.g., through executing a model and/or algorithm, with atrained model, with a machine learning model, with a deep learningmodel, etc.), a combination of predetermined and dynamically determined,and/or otherwise suitably determined.

At least a portion of the parameters associated with the stimulationpattern are preferably determined based on a texture associated with thevirtual/digital object, such that the stimulation pattern enables theuser to perceive and/or recognize the particular texture (e.g., based onprior experience with the tactile stimulation device, based on adifference in feel of tactile stimulation patterns for differenttextures, etc.). In some variations, for instance, an amplitude (e.g.,energy) of stimulation (e.g., where rougher textures [e.g., burlap,tweed, stucco, sandpaper, etc.] have a higher amplitude, where smoothertextures [e.g., silk, liquids, metal, etc.] have a lower amplitude,etc.); a duration of stimulation and/or a speed in which actuators areturned on and off (e.g., where smoother textures have a slowertransition between on/off states, where rougher textures have a fastertransition between on/off states, where a spacing associated with asurface roughness is used to determine the transition between on/offstates, etc.); and/or any other parameters.

A motion of the user relative to the virtual/digital object canadditionally or alternatively be used to determine and/or adjust (e.g.,relative to a baseline stimulation pattern associated with the textures)any or all of the stimulation patterns. In some variations, forinstance, in an event that the texture is associated with adirectionality (e.g., texture has a rough texture in a first directionand a smoother texture in an opposing direction) and/or regionalvariation, the direction (e.g., from a motion vector) that the user ismoving relative to the virtual/digital object (e.g., in the firstdirection, in an opposing direction, etc.) determines one or parametersassociated with the stimulation (e.g., plays a first stimulation patternin the first direction, plays a second stimulation pattern in theopposing direction, etc.). In additional or alternative variations, anyor all of the stimulation parameters are determined and/or adjustedbased on a speed of the user’s motion relative to the virtual/digitalobject. In some examples, for instance, the speed at which the user ismoving determines how quickly and/or for what duration stimulation isplayed (e.g., fast speeds and/or speeds above a predetermined thresholdvalue decrease the duration that each actuator is played, fast speedsincrease the frequency with which tactile actuators are turned on andoff, fast speeds decrease the total duration for which the stimulationpattern is played, etc.). Further additionally or alternatively, adirection of the user’s movement relative to the digital object (e.g.,relative to a directionality of the texture of an object) can be used toadjust the stimulation parameters, features of the texture (e.g.,spacing/density of raised bumps and/or ridges, size of a basket weave,etc.) can be used to adjust the stimulation parameters, and/or any otherinformation can be used to adjust the stimulation parameters.

In some variations, a set of baseline parameter values (e.g.,amplitude/intensity/energy of vibration, frequency of vibration,selection and/or sequence of which actuators of a set of actuators toactuate, duration of actuation, timing of actuation, duration of delaybetween successive actuations, etc.) are associated with (e.g., assignedto, predetermined for, etc.) each texture type, wherein the baselineparameter values can optionally be adjusted based on any or all of:movement features (e.g., speed, direction, etc.), textural features,user information (e.g., user preferences), and/or any other information.

Additionally or alternatively, any or all of the stimulation parameterscan be dynamically calculated (e.g., based on inputs from S100, based oninput processing in S200, with a set of trained models and/oralgorithms, with a set of rule-based logic and/or decision trees, etc.),predetermined (e.g., fixed), and/or otherwise suitably determined.

Additionally or alternatively, stimulation patterns can be otherwisedetermined.

Additionally or alternatively, S300 can include any other suitableprocesses.

4.4 Method - Providing Stimulation to the User According to theStimulation pattern S400

The method 200 can include providing stimulation to the user accordingto the stimulation pattern S400, which functions to provide thestimulation to the user.

S400 is preferably performed in response to S300, but can additionallyor alternatively be performed at any other suitable time(s).

S400 includes actuating any or all of a set of tactile actuators onboarda tactile stimulation device according to the stimulation pattern(s)(e.g., with a controller and a set of control commands determined basedon the stimulation pattern). Additionally or alternatively, S400 caninclude any other suitable processes.

4.5 Method - Repeating Any or All of the Above Processes S500

The method 200 can include repeating any or all of the above processesS500, which functions to continuously provide and/or adjust theprovision of stimulation to the user (e.g., during the user’sinteraction with multiple virtual objects in an extended realityplatform, during the user’s interaction with multiple digital objects ona consumer website, etc.).

S500 can optionally include, for instance, continuously checking forupdates in the characterizations of S200, such that the stimulationpatterns are determined, stopped, adjusted, and/or changed based on anyor all of: the user interacting with a new object, the user interactingwith a new texture in an object, the user changing direction and/orspeed of movement, the object changing direction and/or speed ofmovement, the user and/or object changing location, and/or any otherchanges.

Additionally or alternatively, the method 200 can include any otherprocesses (e.g., training any or all of the set of models and/oralgorithms).

Variations

In a preferred set of variations of the method, the method is configuredto enable digital image information portrayed to a user at a display tobe attributed textural information, which is then conveyed to the userthrough tactile stimulation at a tactile stimulation device. The methodpreferably interfaces with a system which includes the tactilestimulation device (e.g., wristband, vest, etc.) and a processingsubsystem, but can additionally or alternatively interface with anyother suitable components (e.g., as described above).

In a demonstrative set of examples of the method and an associatedsystem as shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the method includes: collecting inputdata associated with the user and the digital data, the inputs includinguser location information (e.g., as represented as point P1 at which theuser’s fingertip contacts a touchscreen surface at time t₁ and point P2at which the user’s fingertip contacts the touchscreen surface at timet₂) and information associated with the image data being displayed(e.g., the images themselves, metadata describing objects in the imagesfrom the website that is displaying the images) such that the user’slocation (e.g., location of virtual contact between the user and digitalobject) relative to the image can be determined; processing the inputdata (e.g., with a set of models and/or algorithms, with a set ofdatabases and/or lookup tables, etc.) to determine any or all of: if theuser is moving relative to the digital object(s) (e.g., based on adynamic calculation with P1, P2, t₁, and t₂) and if so, with whatassociated parameters (e.g., speed, direction, etc.), what objects arepresent in the image data (e.g., distinguishing between the 1^(st),2^(nd) and 3^(rd) objects in FIG. 5C), what textural information isassociated with each of the identified objects (e.g., based on receivingmetadata from the website that specifies what materials the objects areconstructed from, based on processing the image data with a set ofmodels and/or algorithms, based on metadata for material identificationand processing the image data with a set of trained models and/oralgorithms for textural features, etc.), and/or any other outputs;determining a stimulation pattern to be applied at the tactilestimulation device (e.g., based on a predetermined mapping between thetextural information and a set of predetermined stimulation patterns,based on a dynamic stimulation pattern generation process, etc.);optionally adjusting parameters of the stimulation pattern (e.g., basedon user movement parameters such as speed, based on an orientation ofthe user’s movement relative to a textural directionality of the objectsuch as based on an angle between the vector from P1 to P2 and a vectorprescribing the directionality of Texture_1 in FIG. 5C, etc.); andproviding the stimulation pattern (e.g., adjusted stimulation pattern)to the user at the tactile stimulation device.

In a particular implementation of the set of examples, a baselinestimulation pattern which is determined based on a material associatedwith the digital objects (e.g., fabric of Texture_1, plastic ofTexture_2, plastic of Texture_3) can be adjusted based on supplementarytextural features of these materials and/or movement characteristics ofthe user (e.g., speed of movement, direction of movement, etc.). Forinstance, stimulation parameters associated with Texture_1 can beadjusted based on the ribbing of the fabric and how the user movesrelative to the ribbing (e.g., if speed of movement increases whilemoving perpendicular to the ribs, a temporal gap between successivestimuli at actuators of the tactile stimulation device can bedecreased). Additionally or alternatively, stimulation parametersassociated with the plastic of Texture_3 can be adjusted based on thedetection of the raised bumps and/or their density, such that thetemporal gap between successive stimuli is decreased as the densityincreases and/or the amplitude of the stimulation is increased as bumpheight increases, etc. These features can be determined with trainedmodels and/or algorithms (e.g., computer vision machine learningalgorithm), received and/or deduced metadata, and/or any otherinformation or combination of information.

In a second demonstrative set of examples, any or all of the processesin the first demonstrative set of examples described above areimplemented and/or modified to be implemented for digital data presentedto a user at a display (e.g., headset display) utilized in conjunctionwith an immersive environment (e.g., virtual reality, augmented reality,etc.).

Although omitted for conciseness, the preferred embodiments includeevery combination and permutation of the various system components andthe various method processes, wherein the method processes can beperformed in any suitable order, sequentially or concurrently.

Embodiments of the system and/or method can include every combinationand permutation of the various system components and the various methodprocesses, wherein one or more instances of the method and/or processesdescribed herein can be performed asynchronously (e.g., sequentially),contemporaneously (e.g., concurrently, in parallel, etc.), or in anyother suitable order by and/or using one or more instances of thesystems, elements, and/or entities described herein. Components and/orprocesses of the following system and/or method can be used with, inaddition to, in lieu of, or otherwise integrated with all or a portionof the systems and/or methods disclosed in the applications mentionedabove, each of which are incorporated in their entirety by thisreference.

Additional or alternative embodiments implement the above methods and/orprocessing modules in non-public transitory computer-readable media,storing computer-readable instructions. The instructions can be executedby computer-executable components integrated with the computer-readablemedium and/or processing system. The computer-readable medium mayinclude any suitable computer readable media such as RAMs, ROMs, flashmemory, EEPROMs, optical devices (CD or DVD), hard drives, floppydrives, non-public transitory computer readable media, or any suitabledevice. The computer-executable component can include a computing systemand/or processing system (e.g., including one or more collocated ordistributed, remote or local processors) connected to the non-publictransitory computer-readable medium, such as CPUs, GPUs, TPUS,microprocessors, or ASICs, but the instructions can alternatively oradditionally be executed by any suitable dedicated hardware device.

As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detaileddescription and from the figures and claims, modifications and changescan be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention defined in the followingclaims.

We claim:
 1. A method for providing digital texture information in atactile manner to a user, the method comprising: with a processingsubsystem in communication with a tactile stimulation device and amobile user device comprising a touchscreen surface: receiving a set ofposition coordinates corresponding to a set of user locations relativeto the touchscreen surface at a set of times; receiving image dataassociated with a set of images displayed to the user at the mobile userdevice; processing the set of position coordinates to check for amovement of the user along the touchscreen surface; in response todetecting movement of the user along the touchscreen surface:calculating a speed of the movement; processing the image data todetermine a set of textural information displayed to the user in the setof images; determining the subset of textural information that appliesto the set of position coordinates; retrieving a baseline set ofstimulation patterns corresponding to the subset of texturalinformation, wherein the baseline set of stimulation patterns defines aset of stimulation parameters; adjusting the set of stimulationparameters based on the speed of the movement to produce a refined setof stimulation patterns; and activating a set of actuators of thetactile stimulation device, the tactile stimulation device remote fromthe mobile user device, according to the refined set of stimulationpatterns; in response to detecting that the user is stationary relativeto the touchscreen surface, preventing the provision of tactilestimulation at the tactile stimulation device.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the set of user locations comprises a set of locations of afingertip of the user.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the image datacomprises metadata from a consumer website, wherein the set of images isdisplayed to the user through the consumer website.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the image data comprises the set of images.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein processing the image data comprisesprocessing the set of images with a trained machine learning model. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the trained machine learning model isconfigured to identify materials associated with the image data, the setof textural information comprising the materials.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein adjusting the set of stimulation parameters comprisesdecreasing a temporal gap between successive activations in response tothe speed of the movement having a value above a predeterminedthreshold.
 8. A system for providing digital texture information in atactile manner to a user, the system comprising: a tactile stimulationdevice in communication with a mobile user device, the mobile userdevice comprising a touchscreen, wherein the mobile user device isconfigured to: receive a set of position coordinates corresponding to aset of user locations relative to a surface of the touchscreen at a setof times; display a set of image data to the user; a processingsubsystem in communication with the tactile stimulation device and themobile user device, wherein the processing subsystem is configured to:process the set of image data to determine a set of textural informationdisplayed to the user at the set of times, the set of texturalinformation associated with objects in the set of image data; processthe set of position coordinates to determine if a movement of the userhas occurred relative to the set of image data; in response to detectingthat a movement has occurred: calculating a speed of the movement;determining the subset of textural information that applies to the setof position coordinates; retrieving a baseline set of stimulationpatterns corresponding to the subset of textural information, whereineach of the baseline set of stimulation patterns defines a set ofstimulation parameters; adjusting the set of stimulation parametersbased on the speed of the movement to produce a refined set ofstimulation patterns; activating a set of actuators of the tactilestimulation device, the tactile stimulation device remote from themobile user device, according to the refined set of stimulationpatterns; in response to detecting that no movement has occurred,preventing the provision of tactile stimulation at the tactilestimulation device.
 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a setof trained machine learning models implemented by the processingsubsystem.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein processing the set ofimage data to determine a set of textural information comprisesidentifying a set of objects present in the image data.
 11. The systemof claim 10, wherein identifying the set of objects comprisesdistinguishing between boundaries of the set of objects.
 12. The systemof claim 10, wherein processing the set of image data to determine a setof textural information further comprises determining directionalproperties associated with materials of the set of objects.
 13. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the directional properties are determinedwith a set of trained machine learning models.
 14. The system of claim13, further comprising: calculating a direction of the movement of theuser; and determining an angle between the direction of the movement ofthe user and a vector prescribing the directional properties.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the set of stimulationparameters based on the angle.
 16. The system of claim 10, wherein theprocessing subsystem further determines that the movement of the user isassociated with a location of the user experiencing a transition betweenobjects having different textures.
 17. The system of claim 16, whereindetecting the transition between different textures is performed with atrained machine learning model.
 18. The system of claim 8, wherein thetactile stimulation device is configured to encircle an arm region ofthe user.
 19. The system of claim 8, wherein the image data comprisesmetadata from a consumer website, wherein the set of images is displayedto the user through the consumer website.
 20. The system of claim 8,wherein the image data comprises a set of images displayed to a user ata consumer website.